Head Teacher: Thomas Schray

Welcome to our website.

I hope that our website has the information you are looking for, however, it is important to keep in mind, we are a school. There is no substitute for a visit.  Come see our classroom and the children at play inside, and then you will truly begin to understand what our school is all about and why children love to come.

About Me;

I first began to explore early childhood education while a student at Lehigh University. I was a BioChem major with an eye toward teaching in High School.  However, at this time, I had the unique opportunity to observe first hand the enormous benefits of non-standard teaching methods in the lives of several children who had more or less become marginalized in the classroom.

The Montessori curriculum appealed to me because of it's strong enphasis on making abstract concepts into concrete, manipulative teaching materials.

Soon after graduating, I moved to Japan. I recieved my training and certification in Montessori while working here in Tokyo and opened St. Joseph's School in 2004.

All beginnings are small and St. Joe's was no different. We started our program as an English school utilizing the Montessori materials and approach in an adapted manner. We have grown slowly over time, and now, in 2008, we are finally able to accept Kindergarten students into our morning program. Our English program contnues to be very successfull- the children are learning English in as natural a progression as is possible given the limited time for instruction.

Our kindergarten/preschool curriculum is Montessorian with an all English environment.

Our English curriculum draws lessons from Montessori and implements an advanced form of TPR (Total Physical Responce) instruction.

My goal at St. Joe's is to create an environment where all children can succeed. Beyond that, I can only say:

                        "Come and see"

Sincerely,

Thomas Schray

シュレイ　トーマス